Do Messi and co. deserve millions?

(Published in the Slovak daily Sport)

In Sunday’s El Clásico, the top three highest-paid footballers in the world, according to last week’s France Football, put on a perfect display in front of hundreds of millions. Messi, earning €41 million, scored a hat-trick; nearly €40-million man Cristiano Ronaldo netted a goal; and Neymar, on €29 million, made Ramos see red and won a penalty.

Rankings of footballers’ earnings, like those from France Football or Forbes’ list of the highest-paid athletes in the world, are always popular. Millions of fans reflect on them—especially after a quick glance at their own paychecks. Do they really deserve those millions?

Compared to club revenue or record-breaking transfers, rankings of individual player earnings are far less precise. A club’s turnover (Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, Manchester United, PSG, and then the rest of the world) can be fairly accurately measured through accounting and audits. Transfers tend to be a bit more creative—just think of Bale (was it really a €100 million world record or not?) or Neymar (tens of millions paid to his family during the transfer to Barcelona even triggered a judicial inquiry in Spain). Considering the signing bonus, the Brazilian—technically his father—earned significantly more.

Income from sporting activity should, in theory, be easier to track. In the UK, even Members of Parliament weighed in on Rooney’s £300,000 weekly wages. The second part—commercial income—is much harder to estimate. Rankings are naturally based on gross income. The difference between gross and net earnings is massive in countries like England and almost non-existent in Monaco, so the long-injured Falcao, a player for the principality, would rank higher in a "net income" list.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, the two best players on the pitch, also dominate the income rankings. Messi is expected to pull ahead significantly once he signs a new long-term contract. Apart from Falcao and Agüero, the top ten includes players from six of the eight Champions League quarterfinalists. In other words, the best-paid players are competing for the biggest clubs—both in size and results.

What’s the outlook? Top footballers’ earnings are bound to keep rising. They still earn relatively little compared to athletes in other global sports. According to last year’s Forbes list, American football players Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers were ranked 5th and 6th, each earning over $40 million. At the very top of Forbes’ rankings were names familiar even in Slovakia: Tiger Woods and Roger Federer, each making an impressive $65 million purely from endorsements.

CR7 and Messi’s earnings in the 2014 football season will rise even in comparison with the highest-paid film stars (Robert Downey Jr. last year and Tom Cruise the year before both earned $75 million) and music celebrities. Estimates of singer Justin Bieber’s income vary, but one source claims he made $80 million in the 12 months leading up to February 2014—even after his recent run-in with the police.

So the question remains: Is Lionel Messi, earning two-thirds of Bieber’s income, a greater or lesser role model for young people?